Page 56 of Say It Slowly

“We had a fight about some bullshit,” she says vaguely. “I feel like we’re always fighting lately. He’s in some kind of mood.”

“Yeah, I get it,” I say.

My gaze slides to a table across the restaurant, on my left. There’s a sexy morsel sitting all alone—long hair, pulled up into a messy man-bun, tattoos snaking up his neck, and a delicious smile spread across his handsome face. He keeps glancing over at me.

As soon as my food comes, I pick it up, and start to get up.

“Where are you going?” Wyn asks.

I lean over and whisper in her ear, “To piss Roman off.”

“Oh, damn, Lux, that’s not a good idea,” Wyn says, but I’m already headed over to the sexy stranger’s table. He looks up at me when I set my food down in front of him.

“Can I sit here?” I ask.

He smiles. “Sure.”

“So what’s your name?” I ask.

“Elliot,” he says with an awkward laugh. “What’s yours?”

Already, I feel Roman’s eyes on me. It’s like a sixth sense I’ve developed since arriving at ExU. When Roman’s focus is on me, it’s like an electrical current zipping up my spine. I don’t dare look over there, though, because then he’ll know I’m just sitting with this guy to fuck with him.

“Lux,” I say, shoving a fry into my mouth, then taking a sip of my chocolate shake.

“That’s an unusual name,” he says.

I laugh like I haven’t heard that a million times. “I know, my mom is weird,” I say by way of explanation.

Elliot takes a sip from his drink, then sets it down. “Are you attending ExU?”

“Yeah, anthro major,” I answer. “You?”

“Nah,” he says with a smile. “I’m surfing professionally right now.”

“Oh,” I say, feigning interest. “How does one surf professionally?”

His face lights up, and I can tell I’ve hit a topic he’s passionate about. “Well, there are these competitions, and—”

“What do you think you’re doing?” It’s Roman. He’s standing next to the table, glaring down at us.

Elliot looks between Roman and me, confused.

With a sigh, I look up at Roman. “I’m in the middle of something here.”

He doesn’t even answer me, he hauls me up by my elbow, and pulls me to the nearest exit, which happens to be a small patio area that looks out over the ocean. It’s cold, though, so no one is out here.

“Hey, stop, I’m not done eating.” I pull against him, but it’s useless. He’s too strong. I’m not going anywhere unless he allows it, which is exactly the point he’s trying to make, I’m sure.

Control.It always comes back to that one thing with him.

Once we’re outside—and out of earshot of everyone—he releases me. “What thefuckwas that, Lux?”

I narrow my eyes at him. “What do you mean?” I act confused, but I knew what I was doing. And it worked. Not sure I should be glad about that, though, because I didn’t anticipate him yanking me out of the restaurant in front ofeveryone. I just thought he’d silently stew, then confront me later about it.

Clearly, I miscalculated.

“You know better.”

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